BIMSTEC Priority for India: V.K. Singh

Kathmandu: A day ahead of the start of 4th BIMSTEC Summit, India’s Minister of State for External Affairs V.K. Singh on Wednesday said that the sub-regional group of seven nations was a priority for India as it fulfilled the country’s “Neighbourhood First” and “Act East” foreign policy goals. Speaking at the 16th ministerial meeting of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) chaired by Nepal’s Foreign Affairs Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, the Minister said that with the completion of 21 years, BIMSTEC was at a critical juncture. He reiterated India’s sincere and abiding commitment to work with all BIMSTEC member- states for a safe, strong and prosperous Bay of Bengal region. It also discussed the establishment of a permanent Secretariat of BIMSTEC in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

During the meeting, the Foreign Secretaries of member-states agreed on setting up of a dedicated development fund for executing projects and conducting research in the region. (IANS)